Apparatus for reproducing contours of surfaces



April 18, 1933 J. A. MALCOLM ET AL APPARATUS FOR REPRODUCING CONTOURS 0F SURFACES Filed Jan. 9, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTO &

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A TTORNEY April 18, 1933. J. A. MALCOLM ET AL 1,904,623

APPARATUS FOR REPRODUCING CONTOURS OF SURFACES Filed Jan. 9, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 we; as q ww a W 0 9 TAU/2705M Woof/0n.

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A TTORNEY April 18, 1933. J. A. MALCOLM El AL APPARATUS FOR REPRODUCING CONTOURS OF SURFACES Filed Jan. 9, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVEN OR.

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ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 18, 1933 v UNITED STATES PATENT i- JAMES A. MALCOLI, F SHERADEN, AND THOMAS ,W. COTTON, OI PENN;- .SYLVANIA; .SAID WQOTTON ASSIGNOR TO SAID MALGQLM ABPARATUS non nnraonpcme conrlorms or sunracns 1 Application filed January 9, 1930. Serial 2N0. .419,,5,6'..

This invention relates to apparatus for reproducing contours of surfaces, and more particularly'to apparatus for recording the un- 7 dulations of facial surfaces.

An object of the present invention is to prov-ide an apparatus for conveniently obtaining accurate profiles as well as measurements of the human face. Y

I In the construction of plates in dentistry, it is often desirable to have a profile of a patients'face as it was originally, or before the removal of any teeth, so that the profile may berestored to its formerstate or else improved upon. Heretofore various means 5 have been employed for obtaining profiles but none have proved entirely satisfactory. For example, wire has been shaped on the face to correspond with the profile but in transferring the wire from the face to a piece of paper for tracing, the wire is not likely to retain its shape, and upon drawing a pencil along the side thereof, the outline is not likely to be an accurate reproduction;

, The present invention comprises an apparatus of-simple construction which may .be readily attached to the head of a person, as is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevational view of Ethe apparatus shown in position for taking the profile of the human face,-

Fig. 2 is va-n-elevational end view of the device,

I Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 'I'IIITI of Fig. 2,'and shows a-pla-n view :partl-yin cross-section of portions of the apparatus in the direction of the arrows,

Figs. 3aand'3b are modifications of 'a por- 'tion of the apparatus, to be described later,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the device applied in a manner set forth below,

N Fig. 5 is .a "cross-sectional view of Fig. "8 taken on line VV,

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 3 taken on line VI'VI,and 4 Fig.7 is adetailed-view of a portion of the apparatus. i

'The-apparatusvcomprises a rod 1 which is adapted tobe placed adjacent the human face extends from the supporting -me mber 2-1 to This is accomplished by attaching the supor other object a carrier member designated generally by the letterA and which is mount ed on the rod l in such a manner that it may be moved along the said rod-and also toward and away from the face or object; ameans *3 which extends from the carrier member A and the end of which is adapted to be drawn across the skin or other surface"; and a pencil or other marking means 4*whic'h is {also mounted on the carrier member A and which is adapted to come into contact with a cardy5 which is mounted on a target 6.

The carrier member A comprises rods 7 and 8 (Fig. 3) which slide through twodrilled "holes in a-block 9. The block 9 is provided with a third holeand a bushing '10 through which the rod 1 passes so that the Jplock is free to move the carrier member from one end of the rod 1 to the other. 'lheends of the rods 7 and 8 are connected by means of cross pieces 11 and 12.

A tube 13, which serves to hold the marking means in place, is pivotally connected at its center to the cross piece l2'so thatit may be turned in any direction in apla-ne at right angles to the bars 7 and 8; Suitable means maybe provided whereby the tube may-be held in any given position. The marking means 4 projects from one end of the tube "13 U and its point is kept in an outward position by a spring 16. i

The means 3 is fastened to the .eross piece 11 by inserting one end into a holein the latter and holding it in place by means ,of a screw 14. The meansfimay be provided with aroller 16 at its free end, Ora may .be pointed as shown in Fig. 3a, :or provided'with a knob 17 as shown in Fig.3b,. i

A handle '18 may .be' attached at any c'onvenient place, such asthecent-er of the cross piece 1-9. i

The tablet 6 is mounted onarod =20 by means of a supporting member '21 which is attached to one side of the tablet. A rod "22 95 asleeve 23. The sleeve isheld'in position on the rod 20 by means of a setscrew 24. As shown in Fig. 2,- thetabletfi may'be placed 7 parallel with or at right angles :to the r'OdQQ.

porting member 21 to a sleeve 25 (Figs. 4 and 7) through which the rod 22 passes. The tablet 6 may be turned about the rod 22 and may be held in position on this rod by a set screw 26.

For the purpose of attaching the apparatus to the head 'of' a person, the plate member 28 extends from the upper ends of rods 1 and 20 and is attached to a head gear designated generally by numeral 29. Extending from the lower ends of the rods 1 and 20, is a strap member 30 provided with a slot 31. An eX- tension 32 also provided with a slot 33 is fastened to the slotted end of the member 30 by means of a thumb nut 34. The extension 32 is provided with a means 35 which may rest comfortably against the persons neck, or under the jaws as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. By means of the thumb nuts 34 and 36, the apparatus may be set in the desired position with respect to the face.

In the operation of the apparatus described for obtaining the vertical profile of the face, for instance, the tablet 6 may be held in vertical position and the pencil 4 is placed in contact with a card 5 which may be fastened to the tablet by bent over portions 27 at the edges thereof. By grasping the handle 18 the means 3 is drawn across the surface of which an outline is to be obtained. The pencil will mark on the card the exact path taken by the outer end of the means 3. In reproducing profiles of the face, the means 3 should preferably be curved so that only the outer end thereof may be brought into contact with e the skinsurface under the persons nose and chin.

-It is sometimes necessary, as for instance in obtaining a record to lndicate. irregularlties in the horizontal profile of the human face, to place the tablet 6 in a horizontal position as shown in Fig. 4 and inv dotted lines in Fig. 2. In this case the tablet 6 is turned about the rod 22 and may be raised or lowered on the rod 20 depending upon the level at which the record is to be taken. The

tube 13 is placed in a vertical position so that the pencil 4 is directed downward. The carrier member A is moved along the rod 1 rod 1 and when the roller 16 is on the right side of the persons face,,the pencil 4 will be in the region, R on the card. When the roller is onthe left side of the persons face, the pencil will be in the region L on the card.

For purposes of comparison the card is out along the line obtained, and the cut edge is brought against the face, or additional lines may be produced for comparison with ones previously drawn. It is readily seen that in obtaining a horizontal profile or a vertical profile, the line produced on the card will show irregularities corresponding to the irregularities in the profile and such a line may be used as a basis for comparison.

In certain cases where it is desirable to obtain measurements, a scale may be printed on the card 5, or thetabletfi may be marked with a scale. If the distance between any two points is desired and when it is not necessary to obtain a complete "outline, the points may be indicated on the card. In this instance, it is preferable to substitute the pointed means shown in Fig. Sun for the. means 3 shown in Fig. 1. I

As previously suggested the present invention is particularly useful in the dental profession although other uses may suggest themselves. A permanent record of profiles may be kept and may be useful for identification purposes. In orthodontia, profilesmay be recorded at various times duringthetreatment of a patient to show what progress has been made and also to aid in detorminingthe steps to betaken at the different stages towards obtaining a more pleasing profile.

WVhat we claim is- H V V 1. Apparatus comprising a rod, means for supporting the rod in a substantially vertical position adjacent the human face, a carrier member mounted on and movable along the said rod and also movable toward or away from the face, means extending fromthe said carrier member the end of which latter means is adapted to be drawn horizontally or vertically across the skin surface, a tablet mounted on the means for supporting the said rod, means formaintaining the said tablet in adjusted horizontal or vertical position, and a marking means adjustably mounted on the said carrier member whereby the said marking means may be brought into contact with the said tablet when the latter is in a horizontal or vertical position.

2. Apparatus comprising a guide member, means for supporting the said guide member adjacent the human face, a tablet adjustably mounted on the said supporting means adjacent the said. guide. member, means for maintaining the said tablet at any level in the region of the face, means for attaching a card to the said tablet, a carrier member mounted on the said guide member andadapted to be moved along the same and also toward and away from the face, means extending from the said carrier member the end of which means is adapted to be drawn across the skin surfaceat any level fromone side of the face to the other, and a stylus mounted on the said carrier member and adapted to be brought into contact with the said card.

3. Apparatus comprising a rod, a sleeve movable along the said rod, a second rod connected to the said sleeve on the said first rod, a rotatable sleeve on the said second rod, set screws for the said sleeves, a tablet attached to the said rotatable sleeve, a third rod parallel to the said first rod, a block movable along and rotatable 0n the said third rod,

a reciprocating means mounted on the said block, a tracing implement extending from one end of the said reciprocating means, a stylus adjustably mounted on the other end of the said reciprocating means, and adapted to engage the said tablet and a common support for the said first and third rods.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 8th day of January,

JAMES A. MALCOLM. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 8th day of January,

THOMAS W. WOOTTON. 

